Three of family shot dead, two neighbours held

Three of a family were shot dead by two men in Southeast Delhi’s Jaitpur on Saturday night. Om Prakash Mishra (50), his wife Shanti Mishra (46) and their son Amit Mishra (22) were shot dead in front of their house, police said.

Police have arrested their neighbours, Sachin (30) and Bir Singh (38), in connection with the murders. According to police, the family had earlier lodged two cases against the accused and sought protection.

Police said Sachin and Bir Singh were waiting in a car outside Amit’s house since 9.30 pm. As soon as they saw Amit, they opened fire at him, police said. It is unclear whether the car in which the accused were waiting belonged to them.

Amit’s sister-in-law, who stays with the family, too rushed out of the house. Seeing the three lying in a pool of blood, she called police.

Police said Amit died on the spot, while his parents succumbed to injuries at a hospital.

Amit was the youngest of Om Prakash’s three sons. Om Prakash was a garment businessman.

Police said the family had shifted to the rented accommodation in Jaitpur in October last year. They did not get along well with Bir Singh’s family, who live next door.

Om Prakash’s family alleged Sachin and Bir Singh had assaulted them in the past over minor issues. “Sachin and Bir Singh had threatened us in the past. We had sought police protection but never got any. We had lodged two cases against them in the past. The accused would threaten us with dire consequences if we did not withdraw the cases,” Sujit, Om Prakash’s older son, alleged.

Sujit alleged that trouble started when Bir Singh’s son hit his bike, which was parked outside the house. “When I asked them why they hit my bike, they assaulted me. Since I did not want to get into a fight, I came home.

A week later, Bir Singh’s son and his friends assaulted Amit. It is then that my father and I intervened. That evening, I was attacked again, forcing us to approach police,” Sujit alleged.

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BSP leader shot dead in Ghaziabad
Three men on two bikes shot dead a BSP leader in Loni area of Ghaziabad on Saturday night.

Police said the BSP leader, identified as Amarpal Jatav, lived with his family in Loni and was the district secretary of the BSP. “The incident took place when he was returning home in an auto from a party function at the Ramlila Maidan in Loni,” Ghaziabad Superintendent of Police (rural) Jagish Sharma said.

Police said the three men stopped the auto Amarpal was travelling in. “They pulled him out and opened fire. After shooting him dead, continued…